Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
Happy Sunday! Hope all are doing well. We are currently experiencing our third summer here in NJ. We went from an overnight frost warning to temperatures in the low 80s. With the humidity on Saturday, it really felt like a bit of summer. I hate summer, so I will be happy when fall returns this week.
I didn't realize how different the procedures are when a person who is dealing with a second bout of cancer. It's been two months, and they are finally going to start my father's treatment, but it took so many meetings and tests, and there was even a tumor board that had to meet to determine treatment. I am happy that they are finally doing something, but the delay was stressful.
My mother and I are heading back to the Pickled Herring today because she wants to shop a this market nearby called Livoti's Old World Market. It had some great Italian food and baked goods. It's a pretty long drive to shop, so I insisted we at least eat while we are down there.
Saturday, I am taking my dad (and mom) out to this new steakhouse that opened in town for his 79th birthday. Strickland's is supposed to have steaks on par with Ruth's Chris, and there is nothing my father likes more than a good steak. Here's hoping it lives up to the hype.
On the Blog
Let's Discuss
Stacking the Shelves
Bought/Free
- Our Kept Hearts by Tennille Marie
Invites
- The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers by Sarah Tomlinson
Read Last Week
I finally had a five star book! I feel like I have read a lot of great books, but they fell a hair short of earning all the stars. Well, Sophie Cousens managed to get the full five from me. She always does such of great job of blending humor and emotion, and I really liked how she used this time jump. I was left in quite a reflective state when I finished this one, and to me, that's the mark of a great read for me.
Other notable books were Do Your Worst which was a lot of fun, and Four Weddings and a Puppy. Shane is new to me, but I found this to be so delightful, I went and checked out the first book in the series from the library.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
- Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale
- Well Hung by Lauren Blakely
- Do Your Worst by Rosie Danen
- Four Weddings and a Puppy by Lizzie Shane
Audiobooks
- Stop Ghosting Me by Tara Sivec
Currently Reading
I am not too far into Morgan's book, but I have already cried. Poor Hattie! My heart aches for her. I am really looking forward to getting to know all these women.
I have never read anything by Brunner, but cover looked fun, and I thought, why not give it a try. I am very much enjoying this hockey romance. I especially love the connection between the hero and the heroine's brother. Noah is slowly getting used to life since his parents' deaths. He was very withdrawn, but when he spoke, it was a harpoon to my heart. I shed some tears. A great blend of comedy and emotion, so far.
- The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan
- Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner (audiobook)
To Be Read
- Who We Are Now by Lauryn Chamberlain
- The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Lizzie Shane
- The Second Chance Year by Melissa Weisner
- Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotungo
Let us know in the comments!
I hope the treatment goes well for your dad. It got much cooler and windier here today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary! Yes, it was 84F yesterday and 55F right now. Fall has returned!
DeleteHi Sam! I hope your father's treatment goes well. <3 Do Your Worst has caught my attention -- adding it to my wishlist and, hopefully, I will read it when I get over my reading slump. Happy reading! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, hello! Good to see you on here. Thank you! Crossing our fingers for dad. We hope to get a few more years. I enjoyed Do Your Worst. Not sure if you read any of Danan's previous books, but she does a great job infusing lots of humor into her stories. I was laughing a lot. I hope your slump comes to an end, and you start reading again
DeleteI hope your dad's treatment goes smoothly! I can't imagine second summer. It's snowing here right now and has been for days. :)
ReplyDeleteYou get such crazy weather is your parts. I always hear the stories of all the seasons in one day, but snow in October. I would cry.
DeleteI am happy to know your father will get his treatment! Now we'll cross all our fingers and toes that it gets him rid of cancer! Also these pets are so cute!!
ReplyDeleteWe already know they won't be able to cure him this time, but this should slow it down.
DeleteYeah the weather here was crazy too! It was in the mid to upper 70's all week. Tomorrow, its suppose to be a high of 40 and a low of 20. We just went straight into winter.
ReplyDeleteYou are getting lows lower than us. It's rainy and feels cooler, but it supposed to be a high of 60 which is nice for October.
DeleteOof, I did not like the weather this week. Give me back my fall temps! Keeping your dad and your family in my thoughts during his treatment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. It is cold and damp today. I hope it is nicer on Tuesday for all you with little ones.
DeleteOoh that old world market sounds like my kind of place. and hope the steaks are great! I love a good steak too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking my discussion post! Made my day :)
Hope you have an excellent week!
I am sure the steaks will be great! Your discussion was so much fun. I had to share.
DeleteI hear you on the weather. I took my son to tour a college campus today and thought we were both going to melt before it was over. I hope your Dad enjoyed his steak and that his treatment goes well.
ReplyDeleteCollege tour! When did your boy get so old. I hope he picks one not too far from home (you have some great schools in your home state)
DeleteI am so glad that there is now a plan for your dad. It always seems to take way to long to get treatment started in my experience. It almost feels like winter here today. It is raining and should freeze tonight. I hope that you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThe insurance won't cover about $2500 a month for the pills. I was in shock. The rain brought the cooler temps here as well, but still not as cold as some of you are experiencing. I am not ready for cold. I want cool.
DeleteThird summer? Ha! I hear you though. It's been summerish here for the whole month...Today is a rainy/windy day, and yet - unseasonably high temps.
ReplyDeleteA tumor board? Uh. I'm sure it's been unnerving, having to wait for the treatment to begin. I'm crossing all ten fingers for things to go smoothly this time around.
Wishing you so many 5-star books to forget the hardships of reality for a while!
It was hot on Saturday. I am not about that life. It was much better today. Ahhhh, sweater weather. The treatment starts next week, so hopefully it shrinks the tumor. That's all we can hope for.
DeleteSending up more prayers for your father and the rest of you. I know the waiting can be some of the most stressful times when dealing with this. I hope y'all enjoy his birthday and the restaurant! Hope the weather cools off for you soon. Today we're dropping to a high of 51, which will be the lowest high we've had by far. We dropped down to a high of 69 on two separate days, but mostly our highs have stayed in the 70s and 80s. There have been a lot of miserably hot fall days.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost November. I don't want 80s. I think I would be ok with low 70s, but fall has returned to me. It was in mid 60s today, but the rain made it feel colder. Your prayers are much appreciated.
DeleteWe have the opposite weather in South Texas this weekend. Temps have dropped from the mid 90s to low 40s. I'm loving it! My husband has told me we are shopping for Christmas decorations today, so wish me luck lol
ReplyDeleteMy goodness! That is quite a drop. It wasn't even in the 40s this morning. We had low 50s and high of about 65. The Christmas decoration are out in the stores, or are you online shopping? Either way, have fun!
DeleteThird summer? Yikes! We just started getting colder here. It looks like you enjoyed Do Your Worst more than I did. But I enjoyed Well Hung more, so it's a wash. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe cold front came in with the rain - thank goodness! I was not happy about it being in the 80s. I live in the northeast!
DeleteMy father=in-law was diagnosed with cancer early this year and one of the more nerve-wracking things was waiting to do SOMETHING. I hope things get moving and go well for your dad - and that he got a delicious steak!
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
Thank you, Karen! All that waiting lets my mind run wild with horrible thoughts. I will feel better once they are doing something, anything
DeleteThe weather here has been crazy as well, but in the opposite direction. We had eighty degree days last week and now it's snowing today!!
ReplyDeleteI saw that! Amber posted a clip of snow. I would be dying! Way too early for snow
DeleteThe weather finally starting to feel a lot colder in Ohio - just in time for November too!
ReplyDeleteIt was really cold here today in the morning, but the afternoon is pretty much in line with November weather.
Delete